Lid Device

ABSTRACT

A lid device that takes advantage of the large number of the standardized beverage containers and when the lid device is coupled to a beverage container functions both as a portable disposable waterpipe and a sealing device. This lid device when in its first position is collapsed and can fit in a pocket, purse or small storage container and can easily be transported without spillage or damage to the device. When the lid device is in the second extended condition and coupled to a standard beverage container forms a complete and functional waterpipe that uses a discarded beverage container as a water chamber to create a fully functional water pipe. This lid device avoids the disadvantages of existing water pipes by having the liquid containing portion of the water pipe be in essence free, rugged, disposable and recyclable.

This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 6,3187,943 filed May 13, 2021, entitled “LID DEVICE,” the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A drink can (or beverage can) (or beverage container) is a container designed to hold a fixed portion of liquid such as carbonated or uncarbonated soft drinks, alcoholic drinks, fruitjuices, teas, herbal teas, energy drinks, etc. Drink cans are made of aluminum or tin-plated steel. These cans have evolved to all share a common feature, the lid by its diameter and configuration. Today the 202 end or lid is the industry standard in both the US and Europe.

Human beings of all cultures, races, and religions have been smoking various leafy vegetable materials for millennia. The hookah or water pipe has been used in the Mideast for centuries to smoke organic materials such as tobacco and cannabis. Since some of these substances burn harshly the water pipe is used to make smoking them a more enjoyable experience. The usual water pipe includes a water chamber located between the bowl, wherein the material being smoked is burned, and a mouthpiece so that the smoke is bubbled through the water thus being filtered and cooled. Of the many methods and devices that exist today to convert the smoking medium into smoke the use of a water pipe is widely accepted as good means to cool and filter the smoke of unprocessed organic materials.

Of the many water pipe smoking device designs that have been created, all generally suffer from the disadvantages that they consist of fragile glass or plastic members or tubes that are interconnected and tend get clogged as a result of the smoke and burned organic matter which passes there through. Such water pipes are quite difficult to clean and must often be completely discarded after extensive use, or soaked in harsh cleaning solutions for extended periods of time then meticulously washed to remove the cleaning solutions, such pipes are unsanitary, complicated in their construction, can be extremely fragile, and almost impossible to transport or carry within a pocket, a purse, or other portable means.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, a primary object of this invention to provide a new lid device that takes advantage of the large number of the standardized beverage containers and when the lid device is coupled to a beverage container functions both as a portable disposable waterpipe and a sealing device. An additional object of this invention is to provide a new improved smoking device which avoids all of the above-mentioned disadvantages of existing water pipes by having the liquid container portion of the water pipe be in essence free, rugged, disposable and recyclable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The drawings are not necessarily to scale. the drawing are presented as a way of example only and not limitation. In the drawings, like reference characteristics refer to like-elements. eg. functionality similar and or structural similar elements

FIGS. 1 and 2. represent a depiction embodiment of a standardized beverage container and lid. This container can vary in height, diameter, and shape.

FIG. 3. shows an embodiment of the standardized beverage container. lid cross-section at line 3-3 and rolled outer rim of the beverage can lid.

FIGS. 4. and 5. Show the prior art of the classic water pipe or bong.

FIGS. 6. and 7. Are perspective views of an embodiment of the depicted lid device in the collapsed or closed configuration.

FIG. 8. Is a perspective views of an embodiment of the depicted lid device in the open or expanded configuration.

FIG. 9. Is a top view depiction of the lid device coupled to a standard beverage container according to an embodiment.

FIG. 10. is a sectional view an embodiment of the depicted lid device coupled to a standardized beverage container. ready for use

FIG. 11 is a detail view of FIG. 10 showing the coupling of an embodiment of the depicted lid device to a beverage container.

FIG. 12 is an exploded schematic depiction of the lid device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 13. Is a detailed perspective view of an embodiment of depicted lid device in the stored for travel or collapsed condition.

FIG. 14. Is a side view depiction according to an embodiment of the lid device.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken at line 15-15 of an embodiment of the depicted lid device showing the device in the stored for travel or collapsed condition.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of an adaptor embodiment of the depicted lid device.

FIG. 17. Is a perspective view of an embodiment of the depicted lid device coupled to a beverage container embodiment via an adaptor embodiment.

FIG. 18 is and cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the lid device coupled to a beverage container embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of an adaptor embodiment of the depicted lid device.

FIG. 20. Is a perspective view of an embodiment of the depicted lid device coupled to a sports bottle type beverage container embodiment via an adaptor embodiment.

FIG. 21 is and cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the lid device coupled to a sports bottle type beverage container embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a lid device that when coupled to a beverage or other container constitute an assembly that functions as water pipe for smoking organic or other medium. In some embodiments the device may be coupled to a standard beverage container that utilizes thew ubiquitous 202 lid or 202 can end or other sizes or types of the rolled seal container lid. In other embodiments the lid device can be coupled to adaptors so to allow various embodiments of containers such as cups, and bottles to allow the lid device to function as a waterpipe. In other embodiments the lid device can be coupled directly via the specific design to various embodiments of containers such as cups, and bottles to allow the lid device so the assembly functions as a waterpipe.

Detailed embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein for the purposes of describing and illustrating claim structures and methods that may be embodied in various forms and are not intended to be exhausted in any way or limited to the disclosed embodiments.

Modifications in variations will be apparent without departing from the scope of the disclosed embodiment to those skilled in the art. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain the principals of one or more embodiments

The term “lid device” used herein refers to a grouping of components that act as a system to create a portable water pipe device but do not contain a water chamber. The description defined herein will make various embodiments apparent to anyone skilled in the art.

The term beverage container used herein refers to any one of the various embodiments of beverage containers such as a soft drink, soda or “beer can” or a cup used to serve beer commonly called a Solo cup, disposable and non-disposable coffee cup or soft drink cup or that of a sports drink bottle, soda bottle, beer bottle, wine bottle, or other bottle type beverage container. Also included are containers such as jars and cans used in the process of canning, the embodiment shown herein is designed for a 202 lid or (202 can end) but can be adapted either utilizing adaptors, or designed specifically to fit individual beverage container types.

The term adaptor refers to any embodiment of the present invention that would act a coupling adaptor from one embodiment of the lid device to that of another embodiment of a beverage container.

The term seal is used herein to define a means to create a gas or watertight barrier. The material or properties of a seal are that which are necessary to accomplish a gas watertight barrier. The durometer of a seal can be low such as Shore 5 A or as hard as Rc65 (Rockwell C scale 65) depending on the design and configuration of the components. In some instances, the seal is used to define an elastic member that may or may not be watertight or gas tight when subject to exterior or internal pressure greater than atmospheric pressure thus allowing some gas or liquid to leak “past” the seal. In some instances, the seal is used to define a metallic, ceramic or other member whose hardness exceeds that of the mating container and thus the container acts as the deforming member that may or may not be watertight or gas tight when subject to exterior or internal pressure greater than atmospheric pressure thus allowing some gas or liquid to leak “past” the seal.

The materials that the lid device and its components can be constructed from are numerous including common thermoforming and thermosetting plastics or silicones. It can made of organic materials such as wood or bamboo, or other inorganic materials such as metals including but not limited to steels of all types, aluminum of all types and titanium of all types. If material are chosen such as aluminum then a food grade coating such as anodizing shall be employed. The only materials that should not be used are material that are toxic to humans or animals. The materials chosen for any embodiment of the lid device will depend on such variables as intended cost, intended use, and or aesthetic design.

The term anodize used herein refers to the process of anodic coating where materials such as aluminum have their surface converted from a chemically active surface to a chemically inert one. This process creates a non-toxic food grade coating, though extremely thin 0.0002-0.002″ or 0.005-0.05 mm that is both durable and acceptable for a smoking device. Other nontoxic coatings that are food grade are also acceptable such as coatings applied via vapor deposition, and plating.

The term couple is used herein to define a means to couple or connect two or more members together. When members have been coupled, they are held together with forces outside of gravity. i.e. if the lid device is coupled to a beverage container, lifting the lid device perpendicular to earth will not separate it from the beverage container without some external force greater than gravity being applied.

The term tube is used herein to define a member with a closed hollow closed section. This section can be round, square, or any shape that creates a hollow section by which fluid, air, or smoke can freely flow.

The term spool valve used herein to define a member that acts as a rotational coupling member where the member is sealed diametrically and axially to create a gas or liquid tight rotational connection between multiple members.

FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 are a depiction of an embodiment of a standardized beverage container and lid, or standardized easy open beverage container lid 2. The lid 2 is coupled to the container body 1 to form a high pressure gas tight seal. The process of rolling creates and flange edge 8 at the neck section 9. It is this flange edge 8 and the cylindrical surface of the rolled flange 3 that may be utilized to couple the lid device to the beverage container. In some embodiments of open top type beverage containers, the rolled edge may be molded in to create a means to stiffen the opening. In the case of a container with a 202 or similar lid the beverage container must be opened at the lid aperture 5 to allow the lid device to pass through and to mate and couple to the beverage container. This is accomplished via the pull top or easy open lid. In some embodiments of the lid device it may be necessary to remove and discard the pull tap 4 at rivet 6 from the lid center panel 7 of the beverage container.

FIGS. 4 and 5 depict the prior art of the common water pipe. This basic design is a variation of the hookah pipe from the middle east. The function of both the hookah and todays water pipe are essentially the same. The process starts by the user by drawing on mouth piece 13 causing negative pressure in the main chamber 11, organic matter, burned in bowl 12 creates smoke that due to the negative pressure in main chamber 11 is drawn down through the stem tube 16 to be cooled and filtered as it bubbles 19 through the water 18 contained in the main chamber 11 of the water pipe, after being cooled and filtered the smoke is drawn though the mouth piece 13 to the user. This representation of the components is a simplification of the prior art. The main component of the common water pipe is the main body 11 that holds the water. All other subsequent parts of the water pipe couple to and seal to the body 11. In most instance a rubber or flexible seal 17 is required to make a seal between the main body 11 and the stem tube 16. The bowl 12 is generally constructed of aluminum or glass but can be wood or any material suitable to used as a burning chamber. In the case of most water pipes there is a need for a base 15 to act as both a seal for the water in the main chamber 11 and a means to keep the water pipe stable and upright to avoid spilling.

FIGS. 6. Is a perspective top view of an embodiment of the depicted lid device in the collapsed or closed configuration. In this state the lid device is most suitable for transport. It is compact and easily fits into a purse, pocket or other means of transport. The basic components are the lid device body 20. This is the main component and can have numerous embodiments depending on the beverage container selected as the primary fit. In some cases, it may be smaller eg. To fit a sports bottle, or larger to fit a 1 liter can with a rolled seal flange. It may have a built-in bowl storage pocket 42 with a means to eject 41 the bowl 21 from the pocket 42, and a storage compartment with lid 48. In this configuration the outer stem tube 31 in visible as is the draw tube assembly 27. In this state the lid device also acts as a sealed lid when coupled to a beverage container.

FIGS. 7. Is a perspective bottom view of an embodiment of the depicted lid device in the collapsed or closed configuration. In this configuration the lid device is ready to be transported. In this view of an embodiment of the lid device, the lid device body 20 shows seal 30 and sealing flange 39 which is used to couple or seal the lid device to a beverage container to make a watertight seal. Seal 30 may be made of any material that will create a seal when the device is in uses, ie as low as a 0.25 psi pressure differential from the inside of the container to atmospheric pressure outside the container would be considered sealed. The seal may also be an integral part of the lid device body 20. In this view of this embodiment the stem storage pocket 37 houses the stem assembly 35 and the draw tube port 36 with the draw tube spool body 22 in the closed condition. In this condition if the lid device is coupled to a beverage container fluid held in the beverage container cannot pass though the draw tube port 36. The spool valve port plug 25 is also visible which acts as the axial force member to create a seal between spool valve assembly 22,23,24 and the lid device body 20. In this embodiment both the stem spool valve 23 and the drawtube spool valve 22 are axially aligned. In other embodiments these components can have separate axes of rotation and spool valve plug 25 may or may not have a port that serves as a vent to let air in to the system if the user wishes. In another embodiment of the device the stem tube and draw tube components initially stored as separate are assembled and may pass through ports with or without rotational seal members in the lid device body 20.

FIG. 8. Is a perspective views of an embodiment of the depicted lid device in the open or expanded configuration. In this configuration the lid device is ready to be coupled to a beverage container. The lid device body 20 will fit over or into the beverage container to make a watertight seal. The bowl 21 has been extracted from its storage pocket 42 and inserted into the outer tube of the stem tube assembly 35. The draw tube assembly 34 has been expanded and placed in a position ready for the user. In this embodiment a vent 44 or carburetor hole has been placed such that it is only open when draw tube assembly 34 is in the open position. In other embodiments the vent 44 may be moved or not present, the lid device body may fit directly on to the beverage container to make a watertight seal.

FIG. 9 Is a top view depiction of the lid device coupled to a standard beverage container according to an embodiment. The bowl 21 has been mounted on top of the stem tube ready for use. In this embodiment a means to extract the bowl from its storage location 41 has been included as is a storage container for organic material and it's accompanying lid 48.

FIG. 10 Is a cross sectional view of the standardized beverage container with the depicted lid device coupled to the container taken along line 10-10. In this view the function of the device can easily be understood. The process starts by the user by drawing on mouth piece 29 causing negative pressure in the beverage container 1, organic matter, burned in bowl 21 creates smoke that due to the negative pressure in beverage container 1 is drawn down through the telescopic stem tubes 31,32,33 respectively to be cooled and filtered as it bubbles through the water 38 contained in the beverage container 1, after being cooled and filtered the smoke is drawn though the telescopic draw tubes 26,27,28 to mouth piece 29 to the user. The lid device body 20 is coupled and sealed to the beverage container 1 by the main seal 30. In another embodiment the telescopic draw tubes can be a single tube and may or may not be rotationally coupled to the lid device body 20. In another embodiment the telescopic stem tubes can be a single tube and may or may not be rotationally coupled to the lid device body 20.

FIG. 11 is a detail view of FIG. 10 showing the coupling of an embodiment of the depicted lid device. In this embodiment it can be seen how the lid device mates to an embodiment of a beverage container. The coupling is achieved by features in the lid device body 20. In some embodiments this coupling and sealing is facilitated by a snap lock type action as the lid device in snaped over the rolled edge 8 of a beverage container 1. This snap action is the result of the main seal 30 that is captured by the main seal retaining groove 40 to cause the main seal retaining lip 39 to couple to the rolled flange edge 8 of the beverage container 1 due the elastic nature of the main seal. In this embodiment the main seals contacts the beverage container at three points, the outer cylindrical surface of the rolled flange, the lower flange edge 8 and the radial surface that is the top edge of the standardized beverage container lid. In this embodiment the spool valve 23 has its rotational axis located as to facilitate the stem tube assembly 35 to line up and pass though the standardize lid aperture 5 when in the open or expanded state. In all embodiments where the lid device will be coupled to a beverage container that utilizes a standardize easy open lid this location is limited to the size of the aperture which ranges from 275 mm² to 390 mm². In this embodiment burning chamber or bowl 21 has cooling fins 46 to prevent the bowl from becoming too warm to touch after use as it may be required to remove bowl and store it for travel or when not in use. This is achieved by the cooling fins 46 having a larger surface area than the burning chamber surface 45. The bowl is coupled to the stem assembly 35 via a slip fit that creates a seal due to the tolerance of the mating parts. The bowl also incorporated a relief below the metering orifice 43 to allow the burned organic matter to not build-up and clog the bowl. In other embodiments the bowl may have an elastomeric seal to mate with the stem assembly. In other embodiments the bowl may seal on the outside diameter of the stem tube assembly 35. In other embodiments the bowl may seal to one of the rotational spool valves of the stem tube assembly 35 or directly to the main body 20.

FIG. 12. is an exploded schematic depiction of the lid device according to an embodiment. In this embodiment the interaction between the lid device body 21 and the various components can easily be understood. The telescopic draw tube consisting of the mouth piece 29 and tubes 28, 27, 26 pass through draw tube spool valve 22 to form the draw tube assembly 34, the lid device body 20 has a port 36 (visible in FIG. 7) that allows the smoke to be drawn from the beverage container. The telescopic stem tube assembly 35 consisting of tubes 33,32,31 and passes though the spool valve 23 to allow the bowl 21 to be inserted in the outer tube 31 of the stem tube. The spool valves 22 and 23 are assembled into the spool valve port 40 along with the preload seal member 24 and the spool valve plug 25 to create sealed rotary mechanism to allow the telescopic tubes to be stored and out of harm's way when in the closed position and rotated into an open position for use. Another feature of this embodiment is that draw tube spool valve acts as a seal to prevent spillage when in the closed position. When the bowl plug is placed in tube 31 the lid device is water tight and will not spill.

FIG. 13. Is a detailed perspective view of an embodiment of depicted lid device. In this embodiment the lid device body 20 has a storage compartment 49, a lid for the compartment 48 and a means to secure the lid 50. In this embodiment the means is a magnet, but in other embodiments the means may be a catch, elastomeric snap catch, or interference fit. In other embodiments this compartment may or may not be present. In this embodiment the lid device body 20 has a storage compartment 42 for the bowl 21 and a means to eject the bowl via a slid 41 when in use. The mouth piece 29 is located such that it can be used to lift and extend the drawtube assembly 34 from its stored position.

FIG. 14. Is a side view depiction according to an embodiment of the lid device. In this embodiment there is one spool valve plug 25 as there is one spool valve port. In other embodiments there can be 2 spool valve ports for separate non coaxially aligned spool valves. There is no requirement that there be only one spool valve port. In the embodiment shown here the spool valve rotational axis is such as to line up with the lid aperture 5 of the standardize easy open lid.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken at line 15-15 of an embodiment of the depicted lid device. In this embodiment a section view is taken alone the axis of the spool vale assembly showing the relationship of the components in the closed or collapsed state.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of an adaptor embodiment of the depicted lid device In this embodiment the lid device adaptor 52 in configured to fit onto a beverage container larger than an embodiment of the lid device. Embodiments of lid device adaptors can be used to adapt one embodiment of the lid device to a beverage container that was not the of the same embodiment as the lid device was ordinally designed for.

FIG. 17. Is a perspective view of an embodiment of the depicted lid device 20 coupled to a beverage container embodiment 56. The adaptor 52 is shown fitting over the outside diameter of beverage container and sealing inside the flange 54. In some embodiments the adaptor 52 can fit into the inside diameter of a beverage container 56 and the seal would be on the outside of flange 54. As would be obvious to anyone skilled in the art there are a numerous adaptors possible

FIG. 18 is and cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the lid device coupled to a beverage container embodiment 56. In this embodiment the beverage container is a cup type container with an exterior rim molded in, and the adaptor seal 55 in located inside the flange 54 to couple the adaptor to the beverage container in a secure fashion.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of an adaptor embodiment of the depicted lid device In this embodiment the lid device adaptor 62 in configured to fit into a beverage container typically called a sports bottle. This embodiment the adaptor 62 utilize a seal consisting of soft flexible members 63 that deflect and deform to make a seal on the inside of a beverage container. This adaptor could also be configured to fit over the opening of a beverage container utilizing a soft flexible seal. Embodiments of lid device adaptors and seal methods are numerous and can be used to adapt one embodiment of the lid device to a beverage container that was not the of the same embodiment as the lid device was ordinally designed for.

FIG. 20. Is a perspective view of an embodiment of the depicted lid device 20 coupled to a beverage container embodiment 60. The adaptor 62 is shown fitting over the outside diameter of beverage container and sealing inside the flange 54. In some embodiments the adaptor 52 can fit into the inside diameter of a beverage container 56 and the seal would be on the outside of flange 54. As would be obvious to anyone skilled in the art there are a number of adaptors possible

FIG. 21 is and cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the lid device coupled to a beverage container embodiment 56. In this embodiment the beverage container is a cup type container with an exterior rim molded in, and the adaptor seal 55 in located inside the flange 54 to couple the adaptor to the beverage container in a secure fashion. 

What is claimed:
 1. A lid device, comprising: a body, a stem tube, a draw tube, a burning chamber and a means to seal and couple to a beverage container, when the lid device is coupled to said beverage container, forms a system that functions as a water pipe smoking device.
 2. The device of claim 1 where the coupling is a snap fit to the rolled edge created during the installation of a can end on said beverage container.
 3. The device of claim 1 where seal and coupling method are designed to fit specifically to the specifications of said beverage container that is sealed with a 202 can end.
 4. The device of claim 1 that when coupled and sealed to said beverage container with a 202 can end, the stem tube will pass through the lid aperture of the 202 can end and extends significantly into said beverage container.
 5. The device of claim 1 where the body of the lid device has a rotational spool valve assembly compromising a rotational valve and sealing means that the stem tube passes there through allowing the stem tube to align and pass through the lid aperture of a 202 can end in a first extended position and to allow the stem tube to be stored in a recess in the lid device body in a collapsed second position.
 6. The device of claim 1 where the body of the lid device has a rotational spool valve assembly compromising a rotational valve and sealing means that the draw tube passes there through, that when lid device is coupled to said beverage container where in the first position a port is exposed to the beverage container lid and in a second collapsed position allowing draw tube to be stored in a recess in the lid device body.
 7. The device of claim 1 where the draw tube and stem tube are telescopic in nature where in the collapsed state fit in storage recesses in the lid device body and in the extended condition the stem tube extends significantly into said beverage container and the draw tube extends to a position to be used to draw smoke there through.
 8. The device of claim 1 where the burning chamber is coupled to the stem tube in a first position and in a second position is stored in a recess on the body of the lid device.
 9. The device of claim 1 where a storge pocket with a lid is provided in the body of the lid device.
 10. The device of claim 1 that when coupled to an adaptor, said adaptor simulates a 202 can end rolled edge on one portion and on another portion couples to a beverage container with a different configuration than a 202 can end.
 11. A lid device, comprising: a body, and a means to seal and couple to a beverage container, when the lid device is coupled to said beverage container, forms a system that functions as a water pipe smoking device.
 12. The device of claim 11 where the coupling method is a snap fit to the rolled edge that was created during the installation of a 202 can end on said beverage container.
 13. The device of claim 11 where seal and coupling method are designed to fit specifically to the specifications of said beverage container that is sealed with a 202 can end.
 14. The device of claim 11 where burning chamber is integrated into the lid device body and has a means to extend through the lid aperture of a 202 can end and into said beverage container.
 15. The device of claim 11 where the lid device body has an orifice to receive a draw tube that will allow gas to pass from said beverage container though the draw tube.
 16. The device of claim 11 where the lid device body has an orifice to receive the stem tube and said stem tube passes though the lid device and though the aperture of a 202 can end to extend significantly down into said beverage container.
 17. The device of claim 11 where the burning chamber has a means to couple to the stem tube and said stem tube passes there though the lid aperture of a 202 can end of said beverage container.
 18. The device of claim 11 that when coupled to an adaptor, said adaptor simulates a 202 can end rolled edge on one portion and on another portion couples to a beverage container with a different configuration than a 202 can end. 